Bombardier, Alstom and STM Unveil Montreal's AZUR Metro Cars

The first prototype train will be delivered to Montreal in early 2014 for trial runs on the STM network

The consortium composed of Bombardier Transportation and Alstom Transport, together with the Société de transport de Montréal (STM), today unveiled Montreal's new metro cars. The first nine-car train was presented to the Government of Quebec, the City of Montreal and other high-profile guests at a celebration of this important moment at Bombardier's La Pocatière plant.

The consortium is completing trials on the prototype train at the La Pocatière plant and expects to ship the cars to Montreal in early 2014, where it will begin qualification testing, with the STM, at metro facilities.

The event gave guests the opportunity to tour one of the metro cars with the 600 employees looking on proudly. On behalf of the Bombardier-Alstom consortium, Raymond Bachant, President, Bombardier Transportation North America, emphasized the calibre of the partnership that has made the project a success. “Bombardier and Alstom would like to salute the professionalism, expertise and excellent collaboration provided by our partner, the Société de transport de Montréal,” he said. “These advanced new metro cars will provide STM passengers with the reliable, comfortable and rapid service that a major city like Montreal deserves.”

"When the metro was inaugurated over 40 years ago, the City of Montreal in a way entered the modern era. With today's new metro cars, we are clearly in the 21st century. Montrealers will be the primary beneficiaries of a more comfortable and powerful metro, one that makes travel more enjoyable and promotes increased ridership. The metro is vital to Montreal's development. The new cars will soon be an added asset for the city, even as we await the system's extension eastward,” stated Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre.

According to STM Chairman Michel Labrecque, “This has to be one of the most beautiful trains in the world. We're anxious to get it to Montreal, so we can start the testing process, which will take place over a period of approximately eight months. These cars will certainly be in service for 50 years. They will enable us to not only increase the reliability and quality of services offered to passengers, but also boost ridership in the metro, which currently stands at 900,000 trips per day.”

After the ceremony, some guests headed toward the new test track at the La Pocatière plant, where Quebec Premier Pauline Marois and Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre took the train's controls for a run at standard operating speed, commenting on the power and gentle ride of the new cars.

The STM has ordered 468 of the new-generation cars, with deliveries expected to continue until 2018. They include a series of features that will offer passengers greater comfort, a greater sense of safety, better access, and optimal performance. These features include:

Panoramic windows and indirect lighting, for greater visual comfort

Communicating passageways throughout the nine-car train

Doors that are 27% larger, to ensure passenger flow

Optimized air suspension to deliver a more cushioned ride

8% more passenger capacity

State-of-the-art information and safety systems

More than 150 Canadian suppliers, some of whom are long-standing Quebec companies, are participating in the project, whose Canadian content exceeds 60%.

About Alstom

Alstom is a global leader in the world of power generation, power transmission and rail infrastructure and sets the benchmark for innovative and environmentally friendly technologies. Alstom builds the fastest train and the highest capacity automated metro in the world, provides turnkey integrated power plant solutions and associated services for a wide variety of energy sources, including hydro, nuclear, gas, coal and wind, and it offers a wide range of solutions for power transmission, with a focus on smart grids. The Group employs 93,000 people in around 100 countries. It had sales of over €20 billion and booked close to €24 billion in orders in 2012/13. Website: www.alstom.com

About STM

Société de transport de Montréal (STM) develops and operates an integrated bus and métro system, as well as paratransit service, for the benefit of its customers. The métro system comprises four lines serving 68 stations, while the bus network covers the island of Montréal, an operating area of 500 km2. STM provided 412.6M passenger rides in 2012, which translates into some 1.3 million rides per day. The company handles over 80% of all public transportation in the Montréal area, representing more than 70% of all public transit use in Québec.

STM has almost 9,500 employees. In 2013, its budget totals $1.3B, while the replacement value of its assets is estimated at over $14.5B. Of the many national and international distinctions it has earned, STM was named «Best Public Transportation System in North America» by the American Public Transportation Association in 2010, and took top honours from the Fédération des Chambres de commerce du Québec with two Mercuriades awards for its productivity increase and sustainable development.

About Bombardier

Bombardier is the world’s only manufacturer of both planes and trains. Looking far ahead while delivering today, Bombardier is evolving mobility worldwide by answering the call for more efficient, sustainable and enjoyable transportation everywhere. Our vehicles, services and, most of all, our employees are what make us a global leader in transportation.

Bombardier is headquartered in Montréal, Canada. Our shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD) and we are listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America Indexes. In the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, we posted revenues of $16.8 billion. News and information are available at bombardier.com or follow us on Twitter @Bombardier.